As humans, it’s natural to be saddened by all the tragedies and awful things that happen in this world. We have a tendency to focus on what’s wrong, what needs to be fixed, and how much better this world could be.

What would happen if we refocused our mind on all the things that were going right? All those small things we find beautiful in everyday life.

There is always something to find joy in. Even when we seem to be surrounded by the darkest of moments.

When dealing with mental illness it can feel as though the world around us, as well as within us, is nothing more than a dark cloud of wrong. I know for certain this is how I used to see my life each and every morning when I would open my eyes.

These feelings lasted for a long while. It is only in recovery that I have begun to look at this life I have from a different view.

Choose gratitude

Now begin each day with a practice of gratitude. This has been immensely helpful in keeping my mind in a positive place.

Simply writing out a gratitude list each day is a wonderful way to remind us of all the things we may forget to appreciate about everyday life.

This practice forces us to see all the wonderful things our life contains. Instead of constantly seeking more, we are focus on the things we do have.

Gratitude is all about appreciation and thankfulness. Take a moment each day to think of even one thing that brings you true joy. This can be the smallest thing such as your morning coffee, it doesn’t matter.

Find the hidden beauty

This practice is all about seeing the good in what you have instead of wishing things were different or “better”.

We cannot control the fact that we will feel darkness and will experience challenging emotions and even terrible and unfair circumstances at times. In these moments however, we can choose to look at what’s going on from a different perspective.

Take a breath and choose to simply see. It’s then that you can realize the amount of beauty you constantly surrounded by.

Gratitude is essential in recovery. Start each day with a grateful heart, show appreciation, be thankful for the life you have.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. — Melody Beattie